Sleeve terminal for train pipes in connecter heads



March 23 1926. 1,577,872

E.A A. RolBlNsoN SLEEVE TERMINAL FOR TRAIN PIPES IN CONNECTER HEADS Original Filed Jam. 7, 1922 Patented Mar. 23, 1925.

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lilltlll EDWARD ARTHUR ROIBNSON, `OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE- IIALF TO HMSELF AND ONE-HALF TO ELLSOlil EDWARD W'ORKIEAN, OF llOll-- TREAL, CANADA.

SLEEVE TERMINAL FOR TRAIN EIPES EN CONNECTER HEADS.

Grignal application filed January?, 1922, Serial No. 527,568.

Divided and this application filed April 5, 1924. Serial No. 704,531.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, EDWARD A. ROBINSON, a citizen oi' the United States, residing at Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion o1E Canada, have invented certain new and useful Sleeve Terminals for Train Pipes in Connecter Heads, of which the tollowing is a specilication.

My invention relates to pipes intended to be seated in the heads of automatic connecters, forming terminals of train pipes and intended for automatic coupling to corresponding` pipes upon adjoining' cars to torni athrough connection.

rl`his application is a division o'l my pending application Serial No. 527,568, filed J anuary 7, 1922, for terminal sleeves for train pipes in connecter heads.

The purpose of my invention is to make the train pipe terminals within the heads` removable from the heads for replacement of gaskets while the heads are connected and the cars are coupled.

A iurther purpose is to form a long connection between the head and a removable abutment of the spring, pressing;` the train pipe terminal forward with respect to the head, so that the abutment can be backed oli to withdraw the terminal and the parts may be replaced while the cars are coupled and the hose is connected with the train pipe terminal.

A further purpose is to enclose the spring` forcing` the train pipe terminal :forward in the connector head Within a removable and adjustable casing carrying,` an ahntment for said spring,` .so to attain additional axial length ot threaded connection between the parts Without excessive thickness of head.

A further purpose is to provide the head with a removable front engagingsurface surrounding the train pipe terminal and determining` the effective face of the head at this point.

A further purpose is to make the engagement of separate parts of the head with the meeting parts of mating heads, in the positions corresponding to the individual train pipe terminals, adjustable not only when the heads are disconnected but even when the heads are connected by reason of coupling oi the cars.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

Figure l is a side elevation showing;` one -form ot' connecter head and mounting therefor to which my invention is applicable.

Figure 2 is a broken longitudinal section through the head showing my invention applied thereto.

Figure 3 is a broken longitudinal s ction showing two opposed train pipe terminals and their correlated parts with the abutments in retracted position, preliminary to removal or ready for tightening after replacement of the gaskets.

Figures d and 5 are sections corresponding` to Figure 3 and show slightly modii'ied forms.

In all figures similar numerals indicate like parts.

ln order to illustrate that my invention is used with connecter heads that are normally mounted resiliently from brackets to relatively lixed train parts, l have shown one form of suoli head and mounting, but recognize that the particular form oil such head and mounting-i` does not aliect the present invention except the shape oi the head or he location of the connections with respect to it may alicclt the use or accessibility ot parts ol my invention.

l describe the general structure of Figure l, therefore, without here claiming this structure and for my purpose in this application view it as a generic mount which,

however, is described and claimed in an application tiled by ine for terminal sleeves for train pipe in connecter heads, Ser. No. 527,568, filed Jan. 7, 1922. l show a racket l() having` at its lower end a threaded split clamp ll tightened by bolt l2 about a helical spring' 13 which is gripped' within the threads oit the clamp. This spring' 13 is correspondingly threaded into and gripped by a split clamp 14 tightened by bolt 15 embracing the outer end of the spring.

The split clamp 14 forms part of a support, here shown as of yoke form, and comprising arms 1G and 17 terminated at different heights, staggered laterally to lie on op posite sides et the head 18 and bolted to it at 19. The ends of the yoke arms abut against flanges 2O upon the rear ot the head sov to. relieve the bolts from shearing thrust. The head is provided With the usual ears 21, staggered to cooperate with the cerresponding ears and head o a mating connecter.

The head 18 may be olf any shape to suit the needs or whim oli' the designer. l have shown it in convenient form, as comprising three generally lcylindrical train pipe bosses or body portions 23 and 24 connected by Webs 25 and 26. In a-,dditiony the body portions 22 and 23 are connected at the side by a lin 27 supporting` one oit the ears and the body portions 23 and 2l are connected on the opposite side by a'lin 2S supporting the other ear. The. Webs and 26 on the opposite sides 4from the ears carry slight lateral flanges 2O which pass the thrust of the headto the yoke arms 16 and, 17

The body portions are shown as threein number in the. illustration because this corresponds ivith the maximum number ot' train pipes to be connected in actual service, non inally three being used for passenger service and one orV two. for freight service. Obviously my invention is applicabletoeither of the other types ot service by reducing the. number ot' body portions but Without requiring any change in the constructions by which the gaskets may be replaced in service Without uncoupling.

Each bod-y portion is cylindrically bored 29 to receive the terminal tube 30.

This tube is removable and replaceable from the rear ot the head. At its front end it carries a gasket 31 and it and the gasket both preferably project beyond the tace of the head.

The tube is enlarge-d at 32 to form a shoulder 33 and is threaded at the rear end at Sil for attachment of a fitting by which connection to the air hose is made. Ot' course direct attachment of the air hose to the rear of the terminal is permissible.

The terminal is surrounded by a spring 85 and the bore in the head is threaded at 36. The spring rests against. the inwardly extending shoulder 37 in a collar 38 which is threaded into the head and which in this Jform passes through the head and preferably projects' slightly beyond it in adjusted position so thatI the end of this collar may be` used'to take the Wear and may be set forward to adjust for Wear or to take care otany lack of alignment in the 'front face ot the head by projecting one or mo-re collars through 'further than the other collars or collar.

The collar is extended through at the rear so that a stop 'may be mounted upon it. This stop is shown as rigid, an integral flange, 41 in the form in Figure d, Where its lock nut and stop values are desired but adjustment is not intended, but is shoivn as adjustable in other figures. ln the latter ligures the sleeve thread l0 is extended rearwardly and upon it is mounted a nut 4:1 which is quite effective as a lock nut.

In both forms the extent ot maximum projection of the terminal Within the collar is limited by 'a stop, here shown as a pair oi nuts 42' mutually locking each other, and mounted upon the thread at the rar end et' the terminal.

The iittings 43, 4:3 upon tl e rear oit the terminals are int-ended to carry any suitable connecting devices by which air and steam connection respectively may be made -trom the train pipes.

The interiors' ot the tubes carry spanner lugs 30 so that the terminals may be held from the lront end against rotation or may be turned trom the 'liront end to apply the fittings or for other purposes.

The springs press the tubes Yforward with respect to the collars to an extentadjustably determined by the position of the tube stopa The collar, forwardly counterbored to receive and surround the spring and externally threaded into the head, has sliding with the tubeand has relatively long threaded connection into the head so as to afford firm strong connection with the head and adaptation for threaded adjustment in the head to give varying spring compressions for thesame gasket position. it is e3;- tended through the head to advantage, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Any desired portion or all of the lengthl et the collar may be externally threaded.

The collar is provided at its rear end with a grip for ay Wrench or Spanner and a polygonal Wrench hold is shovfn at lill, smaller than the threaded exterior of the collar.

The stop limiting the forward position of the collar in the head may be adjustable along the collar, as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and ll, or nonadjustable. Vlhen adjustable (to permit adjusting spring compression Without change in forward position ot the gasket by corresponding adjustment ot the tube stop) it may comprise merely a lock nut as indicated in Figures 2, 3 and el.

The thread upon the end ot the tube is tapered, corresponding to pipe thread, to receive the fitting. At somel point l5 slightly beyond the fitting, the pipe thread leads into a thread of the same pitch and contour but ot uniform depth and diameter, corresponding vto a machine thread. The machine thread provides ior a'tull thread engagement oi the nuts in any position along it While the pipe thread receives and tightens against the threads oi the iitting. The positions of the lock nuts along the length ot the terminal tube determine the extent oi normal projection ci the terminal beyond the head When no mating head is engaged.

in assemblage, the spring, collar and locli nuts are successively placed upon the terminal tube; the litting is then connected and the tube assembly is ready for insertion in the head. Suiiicient clearance is provided between the fitting and the normal position of the tube stop to permit the lool; nuts comprising the stop to be backed, preterably far enough to free the spring 3ft Wholly from compression.

The collar is non screwed to its position aitter which the loclr nuts are screwed forivard and locked to adjust the projection oi the gasket beyond the tace. The adjustability ot the collar Within the head permits the position of the collar to be changed ii the desired spring compression does not coin-r eide with the intended amount oi projection beyond the front of the head.

In the main form the collar extends through the head and the front of the collar becomes eli'eetive as the engaging portion et the head Which meets the corresponding portion oit' the mating head; so that in case oi Wear this collar can be turned to vary"the part receiving the Wear, or can be adjusted to give or to maintain the desired extent of projection.

By reason of -the independent adjusta-bility ot the casings formed by these projecting collars surrounding the individual train pipe terminals, these points of engagement with adjoining connecter parts can be set up independently to correct any lack of aliginnent of the heads. Vlhey can be set up to obtain contact and some pressure even when the ears are coupled, though the pressure present at this time Would make it diiiicult to project them to What might be the preferred positions.

lt will be evident that various changes may be made by others interested in obtaining part or all oi the advantage of my invention Without copying it, and it is my purpose to include herein all such changes as come Within the reasonable spirit and scope oi my invention.

i-laving thus described my invention, what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In an automatic train pipe connecter, a connecter head, having a bore through the head., a collar threaded into the head bore and extending beyond the bore to abut against another head and a train pipe terminal carried by said collar.

2. ln an automatic train pipe connecter, a

connecter head having a bore through the head, a sleeve extending through the head and threaded into the bore, a train pipe ter- -ininal in the said sleeve and a gasket for said terminal adapted to engage a gasket et a cooperating car.

ln a train pipe connecter, a head having a bore through the head, a sleeve extending through the head and threaded into the bore, a spring pressed train pipe terminal carried by said sleeve normally extending beyond the sleeve to engage another terminal and a stop for limiting the forward movement oi the terminal.

Il. ln an automatic train pipe connecter, a' connecter head having a bore therethrough, threads within the bore, a collar threaded into the bore and extending substantially therethrough, means for limiting the extension of said collar, an, inwardly directed abutment carried by said collar, a train pipe terminal movable Within said collar and having an enlargement providing a rearwardly `aciiug shoulder, a gasket carried by the terminal, a spring surrounding the terminal and engaging the shoulder and abutment and means carried by the terminal for limiting the forward movement of the terminal Within the collar.

5. ln an automatic train pipe connecter, a connecter head having a bore therethrough, threads within the bore, a collar threaded into the bore and extending substantially therethrough, means for adj ustably limiting the extension of said collar to determine the projection et the collar with respect to the head, an inwardly directed abutment carried by said collar, a train pipe terminal movable Within said collar and having an enlargement providing a rearwardly facing shoulder, a gasket carried by the terminal, a spring surrounding the terminal and engaging the shoulder and abutment and means carried by the terminal. for limiting the forward movement ot the terminal Within the collar.

6. In a train pipe connecter, a head having an opening therethrough, a tubular train pipe terminal in the opening, a rear vardly facing abut-nient on the terminal, a spring surroundingv the terminal and engaging the abutment, a sleeve surrounding the terminal., passing through the head and threaded thereinto, a stop upon the terminal and a lock nut lor fixing the position of the said sleeve in the head.

7. In a train pipe connecter, a head having an opening therethrough, a tubular train pipe terminal in the opening, a rearwardly Vfacing abutment on the terminal, a spring surrounding the terminal and engaging the abutment, a sleeve surrounding the terminal, passing through the head and threaded thercinto, a stop upon the terminal and ay loclrino' device oaeratin' between the head b Ca and the rear of the sleeve adapted to secure Said Sleeve against rotation in different adjusted positions.

8. In o tziin pipe Connecter, a head havine` a threaded here of uniform diameter. n sleeve thi-ended into the head and extended therethrough, a train pipe terminal Within the sieeve, :i spring Surrounding; the terminai, within the Sleeve and engaging both sleeve andterininal axiiiiiy or' the hitter, a stop upon the terminal engaging the sleeve and a fitting upon said terminal spaced from the stop to permit movement of' the stop While the connection remains undisturbed.

EDVARD ARTHUR ROBINSON. 

